Vehicle-wheel.



No. 822,615. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.v

L. G. LANGSTAPP VEHICLE WHEEL.

PPLICATION EILED JUNE 29, 1905.

.No. 822,615. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

L. G. LANGSTAPF.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29,.1905.

2 SHEETQ SHBET Z.

Warren srairns r orrren.

FATE i LEWIS e. LANGSTAFF,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VlEl-llCLE-WHEEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed June 29, 1905- Serial N0- 267,493-

provide avehicle-wheel of novel form whereby the tire may have great resiliency without the use of an inclosed tubesuch, for instance, as a pneumatic tire.

A further object is to-provide a wheel of the above character which willhe very strong, in which a very few parts are used in the construction of the wheel, and in which the tire is permitted to spread laterally under spring tension when weight is applied thereto, but which will resume its normal shape when pressure is removed therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents 1n cross-sectlon a portion of one form of vehicle-wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side view, partially in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a portion of a wheel embodying another form. of my invention, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the same, partially in side view and partially in section.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hub of the wheel is denoted by 1 and may be of any well-known and a proved construction. Two side disks 2 am. 3 have their central portions secured to the hub 1 preferably by providing lateral flanges 4 and 5e11- gaging the peri hery of the hub through. which and the ranges an annular series of bolts 6 and 7 pass. These disks 2 and 3 are spaced a considerable distance apart/ at the hub and are brought into proximity to each other a short distance away from the hubb an annular series of fastening devices, sucli as bolts and nuts 8 and 9.

The ortions of the disks 2 and 3 exterior to the astening devices 8 and 9 flare away from each other, and the disks at their peripheries are provided with annular recesses 10 and '11 for the reception of the side edges of the tire 12. These recesses are formed in the inner faces of the disks in the present instance by bending the disks laterally, as shown at 13 and '14, to form annular shoulders, and inwardly, as shown at 15 and 16, to form annular retaining rims or flanges.

The tire 12 is normally made convex in cross-section and has its opposite edges seated in the annular recesses 10 and 11 of the disks 2 and 3.. the tire-as, for instance, when the wheel is traveling along the ground'the tread of the tire will be depressed, thus spreading the disks 2 and 3 anart laterally. These disks When weight is applied to 7 may be made 0 spring metal, so that they will exert the required amount of resistance to the tire and so that the tire will be forced back to its normal convex shape in cross-section when the load is removed therefrom.

To prevent the tire from being depressed to too great an extent, I provide an auxiliary yielding stop for the tire, which is arranged to engage the same between the side edges of the tire, as follows: A flexible band is located in the space between the disks 2 and 3,whichband is yieldingly held in osition. by a plurality of springs 18, carrier by spokes 19, radiating from the hub 1. These spokes are preferably held in position by entering their lnner ends into radial holes 20 in the hub 1 and by passing the bolts 8, which secure the disks together, through enlarged porti ns 21 in the said spokes.

The springs 18 are here shown as being provided with suitable seats 22 or the flexible band 17 and suitable seats 23 or. the ends of the spokes 19. It will be understood that this band 17 is located in osition to engage the tire after it has been epressed to a predetermined extent, so as to exert additional resistance upon the same, and finally to stop the de ressron of the tire before it is depresser sufficiently far to cause the eriphcries of the disks 2 and 3 to engage t e surface upon which the wheel is resting.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the hub, disks, and tire are all substantially the same as described with reference .to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the change being in the auxiliary resistance device for the tire. This device in this instance comprises a centrally-arranged disk 24, having a peripheral flange 25 located at the desired point inwardly from the tire 12. This disk 24'engages the hub 1 and is secured between the tire-holding disks 2 and 3 by the bolts 8. A plurality of springs are spaced between the inner Walls of the tire and the flange 25 of the intermediate disk 24 for yieldingly resisting the inward movement of the tire when weight is applied thereto. In the present instance these springs, which are arranged transversely to e wheel, comprise two annular series 26 27 the springs of one series alternating with the springs of the other series and arranged at diiferent distances away from the inner walls of the tire, so that the tire will first engage the springs of one series before it en ages the springs of the other series. The ange 25 of the intermediate disk 24 serves as a permanent stop for the tire be- I fore it is depressed sufficiently far inwardly I fered with by the said springs.

to cause the peripheries of the disks 2 and 3 to engage the surface upon which the Wheel rests. Each of these transverse springs 26 27 may be secured, as shown at 28, at one end to one of the tire-holding disks, its other end being free to slide in the recess of the opposite disk, so that the lateral spread of the disks as the tire is depressed is not inter- It will be seen that the devices for engaging the sides of the tire, which in the present instance are shown as disks 2 and 3, may be made in various forms, the gist of the invention lying in means for yieldingly holding the side edges of the tire at certain positions with respect to each other, the said devices permitting the side edges of the tire to be spread apart as the tread of the tire is. depressed.

It is evident that other forms than those herein shown might be employed for carrying out my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit {myself strictly to the construction herein set forth; but

What I claim is i 1. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub, a tire and laterally-spreading spring means connecting the hub with the side edges of the tire.

2, A vehicle -wheel comprising a hub, a tireand laterally-spreading spring-disks connecting the hub with the side edges of the tire.

3. A vehicle-wheel comprising a hub, a tire, laterally-spreading spring means connecting the hub With the side edges of the tire and auxiliary means for yieldinglysup:

porting the tire after it'has been depressed to a predetermined point. I

4. A vehicle-wheel comprising a hub, a tire, laterally spreading springdisks connecting the hub with the side edges of the tire and means for yieldingly supporting the tire after it has been depressed to a predetermined point. I

5. A vehicle Wheel eomprising a hub, a tire, laterally-spreading spring means con: necting the hub with the side edges of the tire and a stop for preventing the undue depression of the tread of the tire.

6. A vehicle-wheel comprising a hub, a tire, laterally-spreadin spring-disks connecting the hub with th pression of the tire.

7 A vehicle-wheel comprising a hub, laterally-spreading disks secured theretopa tire of convex'form in cross-seetion and annular recesses formed in the inner faces of the disks at their periphery for receiving the side edges of the tire. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed'rny name, in

presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of une, 1905..

LEWIS G. LANGSTAFF.

I Witnesses: FREDK; Haynes, HENRY THIEME;

e side edges of the tire and a stop for preventing the undue de- 

